Pens get lucky AGAIN

Is anybody else pissed that the #1, #2 and #3 teams in the east all lost in the first round and have paved the way for the Pens to return to the finals? I mean for God's sake, how much luck can 1 team have.

While we are playing San Jose, they are playing a Montreal team that almost didn't make the playoffs. And then if we get past San Jose we face either Chicago or Vancouver and they get Boston or Philadelphia.

This to me is unbelievable. I don't believe that it's a conspiracy but what are the odds of this happening?

Considering half the teams in the East wouldn't have even made the playoffs in the West, yeah it sucks. Not only is it easier for the Pens to get to the Finals, but they also get to rack up stats against weak ass teams on their way so we can hear about how great their players are with all their points.

Yeah this is something that really pisses me off too. Last year they get to face the "cardiac canes" that needed the final day of the regular season to even make the playoffs. And they got to face them in the eastern conference finals no less, which of course ended in a sweep. Now this year they get to face the #7 and #8 seeds so far? They will certainly beat the Habs. Then they will either face a Philly team that also needed the last game of the regular season to make the playoffs, or a Boston team that is still without their best point producer in Marc Savard. Yet another walk in the park for Pittsburgh. Luckiest team ever.

And while I think there's no doubt the Pens will be in the finals again, I also think there's no doubt that whoever wins the west will be hoisting the cup this year. I sure hope it's the Red Wings. But if it's not, as much as I hate the Blackhawks, Canucks and Sharks, I will be hardcore cheering any of them on against Pittsburgh. For me as long as the Pens don't win again, I'll be okay.

Yeah this is something that really pisses me off too. Last year they get to face the "cardiac canes" that needed the final day of the regular season to even make the playoffs. And they got to face them in the eastern conference finals no less, which of course ended in a sweep. Now this year they get to face the #7 and #8 seeds so far? They will certainly beat the Habs. Then they will either face a Philly team that also needed the last game of the regular season to make the playoffs, or a Boston team that is still without their best point producer in Marc Savard. Yet another walk in the park for Pittsburgh. Luckiest team ever.

And while I think there's no doubt the Pens will be in the finals again, I also think there's no doubt that whoever wins the west will be hoisting the cup this year. I sure hope it's the Red Wings. But if it's not, as much as I hate the Blackhawks, Canucks and Sharks, I will be hardcore cheering any of them on against Pittsburgh. For me as long as the Pens don't win again, I'll be okay.

I agree. The east is pathetically weak. I think all 4 of the Western teams are better than all of the teams left in the east. The Pens have a pretty smooth road to the finals now, I just don't see them losing to Montreal or Boston of Philly, even without Staal.

Its not a conspiracy or the league pulling strings, its just the fact that the East is so terrible.

And to add to all this, they get to play all their opponents in the same time zone. Whereas, the Wings will have to fly back and forth several thousand miles through 3 time zones to get to the finals.

If we get to the finals against them again, let's just spot the Pens a couple of goals each game as well...

"Just too strong for us, our top players were not even close to them, not even close. We couldn't make a damn pass. It's like they were playing against kids."Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire commenting on the Red Wings after they beat his team 5-0

Whats the point here? They are the best all round team in the East. They're offensively and defensively sound. No other team in the East has that. So, are you saying its unfair that they are good? How many times have we heard how Detroit has the weakest division in the league so its not hard to win every year. It pays to be good. Bottom line. I'm no Pens fan by any means, but face facts, they are scary good, without or without the refs on their side. While we play San Jose they play Montreal, whats the issue? Its unfair that we finished as a lower seed so we have to play a better team now? So its unfair to the rest of the league that the Wings had to play lower teams every other year because they finished first? I don't understand your rant here, sorry.

Whats the point here? They are the best all round team in the East. They're offensively and defensively sound. No other team in the East has that. So, are you saying its unfair that they are good? How many times have we heard how Detroit has the weakest division in the league so its not hard to win every year. It pays to be good. Bottom line. I'm no Pens fan by any means, but face facts, they are scary good, without or without the refs on their side. While we play San Jose they play Montreal, whats the issue? Its unfair that we finished as a lower seed so we have to play a better team now? So its unfair to the rest of the league that the Wings had to play lower teams every other year because they finished first? I don't understand your rant here, sorry.

I guess you didn't read the OP. He said unlucky. Not unfair. They play in an absurdly easy conference and have very weak competition throughout the year.

Some teams get the luycky breaks. Look at Boston, they are a 6th seed and get home ice for this round, talk about lucky!

The Best Of BCHankthaTank- Squirrels, they hate to be thrown. / Why is the magical unicorn named Brian... Jedi - I just downloaded the "kids" book, "Go the F--k to Sleep" as narrated by Samuel L. Jackson on my kindle. I am now ready to be a daddy. / *Checks Router* No, I'm positive I didn't hit the "Wings Defense Sucks" button. Electrophile - I'm just glad the Wings were able to win despite the Curse of Brian. ACallToArms - I think Trey needs to put something about payroll tax and deferred income in his sig... Edicius- I'd rather [have] a soundbite of me saying "I like (man sausage)" rather than "I like Crosby".

I always thought it would be better if 1-8 from the east played 8-1 from the west in the first round. There wouldn't be a conference champion, but the cup would mean a lot more. And for the foreseeable future, the cup would come west every year.

The last 10-or-so years, the Western has been significantly better. I think the only reason the Wings didn't hoist the cup last year is because they played so many tough games just to make it to the finals.

On the plus side, most series out west are incredible hockey - much better than the SCF. Last year, the Wings had to be on for every single game to win it all, and I'm sure that will be true for this year's Western Conference Champs.